The mortal remains of the 15 Indian tourists who died in a speedboat accident off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island will be repatriated to India later on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi has confirmed.
According to the embassy, the bodies will be flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979, which is scheduled to depart at 6:00pm local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 9:35pm IST.
In a statement posted on social media, the mission said the respective state governments had been informed and requested to coordinate with the bereaved families to arrange onwards transportation of the victims’ remains to their hometowns.
“The flight is scheduled to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hrs local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai at 2135 hrs IST,” the embassy said.
The embassy also expressed its condolences, saying: “The Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City pray for the family members of the deceased.”
Victims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala
Of the 15 people who lost their lives, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Two of the victims were women.
Meanwhile, 16 survivors who were rescued following the accident have returned to India after receiving medical treatment. One survivor remains in critical condition at a hospital in Phu Quoc.
After the accident, some people tried to help by giving CPR.
Boat capsized during return journey
The tragedy occurred on Friday, when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members capsized around 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, near Phu Quoc.
The tourists were reportedly returning from an island excursion when the vessel overturned.
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established. Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
On Saturday, a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized in Vietnam. The boat can be seen capsized in the picture.
According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, the operator of the speedboat was detained on Sunday as part of the ongoing investigation.
Tourism services affected after the accident
Following the accident, several tourism companies have temporarily suspended speedboat services between Phu Quoc and nearby islands. May Rut Island is known for its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and diving spots, attracting a large number of tourists who travel there by speedboat.
More than 1.8 million foreign tourists visited Phu Quoc last year. However, Vietnam has witnessed several boating accidents in recent years, often linked to bad weather, flooding and poor maintenance of vessels.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, renowned for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions. The fatal accident has cast a shadow over one of Southeast Asia’s busiest holiday hotspots as investigators work to determine what caused the vessel to capsize.
